Brewster’s pool, above, features a
waterslide. The Columbia River, left, offers
a place to open up the throttle.

Brewster offers water sports and more
Brewster is the perfect spot for
vacationers whose dream is to play on
and in the water.
The city sits on the bank of the
Columbia River, with the Okanogan
River upstream and the Methow
River downstream.
The area offers boating, water
skiing, fishing, jet skiing, water bird
watching and a place to lie on the
grass and enjoy a breeze off the river.
An updated public boat launch
accommodates dozens of boats, and
the river is home to various species of
game fish.
There’s good fishing all the way
from Wells Dam to Chief Joseph
Dam, and still more good fishing on
Rufus Woods Lake, behind Chief
Joseph Dam. Rat Lake, north of
town, is a good spot for winter ice
fishing.
The annual Budweiser Lowrance
King Salmon Derby brings anglers to
town the first weekend in August;
participants can win both prizes and
money.
Columbia Cove Park sprawls
along the riverbank, offering a beach
for swimming and splashing, a dock
for boats, gazebos for picnics and a
playground. The municipal pool has a
waterslide and diving boards.

Page 2 – Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012

Al Camp/The Chronicle

Fort Okanogan’s site is marked by
a sign and interpretive center.
Columbia Cove RV Park, next to
the pool, offers 23 full hookup sites
and 18 overflow spots with electricity.
Ospreys and eagles can be found
by the river, hummingbirds and quail
roam the neighborhoods, pheasants
and songbirds live in the orchards
and fields.
The back roads are good for a
drive, the hills around town offer

hiking and there are opportunities on
public lands for four-wheeling,
motorbikes and horseback riding.
The 18-hole Alta Lake Golf Course
and nine-hole Lake Woods Golf Course
are within a dozen miles of town.
July 4 will feature the town
celebration, highlighted by a parade,
activities and one of the biggest
fireworks shows in North Central
Washington.
Brewster is in the middle of one of
the biggest fruit producing regions in
the world; crops include cherries,
apricots, peaches, nectarines, pears
and apples. Fruit warehouse tours
can be arranged by appointment.
Fort Okanogan, the first U.S.
outpost in what became Washington,
was established in 1811 just north of
present-day Brewster.
Brewster’s downtown is good for
strolling. The city also offers lodging
and shopping.
Website: www.ci.brewster.wa.us
Incorporated: 1910
Elevation: 820 feet
Population: 2,200
Location: On U.S. Highway 97 near the
confluence of the Okanogan and Columbia
rivers, about seven miles north of Pateros and
26 miles south of Okanogan

www.OkanoganVacation.com

Outdoor fun awaits

Cheryl Schweizer/The Chronicle

A precision mop team cleans up during the Bridgeport Daze parade.
found in the river and nearby lakes.
The Columbia is home to dozens
of watchable birds, mammals and
reptiles, ranging from eagles and
hawks to otters and beavers. There
are lots of back roads for horseback
riding, motorbikes and ATVs in the
summer and snowshoeing and cross
country skiing in the winter.
For those who like their water in a
pool, Berryman Park offers an
outdoor pool, plus picnic spots and a
playground. Military history buffs

Norm Williams

Balsamroot shines in the spring sunshine — the hills are dotted with the
bright flowers.
www.OkanoganVacation.com

can peruse the exhibit of vintage
military equipment dating from
World War II and the 1950s.
On the way into town on Foster
Creek Avenue, check out the
sculptures carved from tree trunks.
They celebrate Bridgeport’s history
and landscape, from fur trappers to
raptors.
Downtown Bridgeport offers
cafes, grocery stores, a laundry,
liquor stores and a couple of
businesses whose owners and
employees are happy to provide free
fishing advice.
The annual town celebration,
Bridgeport Daze, takes place the first
weekend in June with a parade,
softball, music and plenty of visiting.
Visitors can’t miss the fruit
orchards and wheat fields that
dominate the landscape and provide
the basis of the town’s economy.
Bridgeport was incorporated 101
years ago and grew up along the
riverbank about 20 years before that.
Originally it was named Westfield,
but that changed when a group of
investors from Bridgeport, Conn.,
bought the townsite.

Bridgeport

Whether the goal is fishing,
hiking, wildlife watching or other
outdoor fun, Bridgeport is the place.
The city sits at the base of Chief
Joseph Dam, one of the largest
hydropower projects in the world; a
visitor center details the region’s
history and explains how the
hydropower system works.
Lake Rufus Woods stretches for
about 40 miles behind the dam, and
it’s home to great fishing and boating
opportunities. Hiking trails, many of
them paved, offer views of the dam
and Columbia River.
For those who like to golf, the
privately owned, nine-hole Lake
Woods Golf Course is about 10
minutes from town.
Bridgeport State Park is located at
the end of the road behind the dam;
the park boasts camping sites, picnic
areas, a boat ramp and swimming
beach.
There’s a boat ramp across the
lake as well, on the same road as the
administration offices about three
miles from town, along with fishing
spots from shore. For campers who
prefer to stay in town, Marina Park
has spots for RVs, tent camping, plus
picnicking, swimming and a boat
launch.
Anglers know Bridgeport, whether
they’re fishing on Lake Rufus Woods
or in the Columbia River below the
dam. Salmon, trout, steelhead,
sturgeon and other sport fish can be

The town of Conconully is situated in a narrow valley surrounded by deep blue lakes and verdant mountains.

A quiet place with plenty to do
Get back to nature, soak in some
quiet and find plenty to do in
Conconully.
Tucked in a mountain valley and
surrounded by national and state
forests and lakes, the town is also
host to friendly wildlife. As you take a
walk, expect to find deer, wild
turkeys and other creatures enjoying
the scenery, too.
Conconully State Park borders
Conconully Reservoir (lower lake)
and offers camping sites, playground
equipment, a nature trail, picnic and
barbecue areas, restrooms with
showers, a boat launch and plenty of
room to run.
Conconully Lake (upper lake) also
has a boat launch, handicap-accessible
fishing dock and restrooms.
Boats and motors can be rented at
various local businesses, which also
offer supplies, gas and basic
groceries. Get a full meal at any of
the local restaurants.
Take your pick of various lodges
and cabins, most within walking
distance of a lake.
Anglers can have a great time
catching the fish stocked annually by
the state Department of Fish and
Wildlife. Conconully Lake holds
rainbow trout and smallmouth bass
while the lower lake offers rainbow
trout, bass and kokanee.
Each year also features a trout
derby for families shortly after
fishing season opens in April.

Page 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012

Al Camp/The Chronicle

Winter brings sled dog racing.
For nature enthusiasts, the area
has hiking trails such as the Mutton
Creek Trail, good for all ages, just a
mile north of Conconully on County
Road No. 2361. Peacock Meadows
Sno-Park is a jumping-off point for
hiking and winter sports, including
snowmobiling.
Both snowmobiles and ATVs can
share the roads on designated streets.
Conconully also has its share of
unique events. The Independence Day
Celebration brings the Old West back
to life. Snow-covered streets are
turned into the Outhouse Race course
in January, with teams taking off
down the street in head-to-head races
featuring biffies on skis. Other
activities include the Snow Dog Super

Al Camp/The Chronicle

The catch is bountiful in Conconully.
Mush, Stew and Brew and more.
Interested in history? Conconully
started as a boom town in the 1800s
by miners seeking silver and gold.
Their efforts gave way to farming and
ranching.
You can find more history at the
Conconully Museum, operated from
Memorial Day to Labor Day by the
Conconully Area Historical
Association.
Website: www.townofconconully.com
Incorporated: 1908
Elevation: 2,300 feet
Population: 190
Location: On county Conconully Highway
about 15 miles west of U.S. Highway 97 and
18 miles northwest of Omak

www.OkanoganVacation.com

Four cities, each with its own
amenities,
charms
and
spectacular
scenery,
are
clustered around Grand Coulee
Dam.
Coulee Dam, Electric City,
Elmer City and Grand Coulee
offer full services and amenities,
from gas and groceries to a
casino and restaurants.
Construction of the dam
began in 1933; the hydroelectric,
flood control and irrigation dam
towers 550 feet above the
riverbed. A third electricitygenerating powerhouse was
completed in 1974.
There is enough concrete in
the dam to build a four-lane
highway from Los Angeles to
New York.
The project is the largest
producer of hydroelectric power
in the U.S.
Stories of its construction,
and a lot more, are told at the
visitor center on state Highway
155 just downstream from the
dam. It’s open all year; tours are
offered in summer.
The dam face serves as the
screen for the nightly Laser Light
Show, presented from May to
September, which tells the story
of the Columbia River, its
geology and history and the dam.
The 151-mile pool behind the
dam is known as Lake Roosevelt
and is famous for its recreation
opportunities, including 22 public
boat docks, 27 campgrounds,
swimming and more.
Spring Canyon Park, about
two miles east of Grand Coulee
on state Highway 174, features a
swimming beach, picnic areas,
playground equipment and
more.
The lake is stocked with
kokanee (land-locked salmon),
walleye, rainbow trout, lake
whitefish, yellow perch and
white sturgeon, among others.
The river waters also fill
Banks Lake; Steamboat Rock is
the lake’s centerpiece. The lake is
about a mile wide and 30 miles
long. Northrup Canyon, near
Steamboat Rock State Park, is
home to watchable wildlife and
interesting plants, and a favored
nesting spot for bald eagles from
mid-November to mid-May.

www.OkanoganVacation.com

At the top of the canyon is a
five-acre,
stream-fed
lake
stocked with trout and accessible
by a walking trail.
People who want to see some
great scenery can start at Crown
Point, about two miles east of the
town of Coulee Dam on state
Highway 174. The entire area
displays the marks of Ice Age
floods that carved out the
current landscape.
The whole area is crisscrossed
by trails, ranging from difficult
hikes to the wheelchairaccessible paths.
A walking tour guides visitors
around historical buildings from
the dam construction era.
All three towns have a full
calendar of events all summer
long, starting with the Colorama
celebration
Mother’s
Day
weekend,
www.grandcoulee
dam.org.
That’s
followed
by
a
succession of car shows,
powwows, golf tournaments and
the Sunbanks Blues Festival in
May and September, www.sun
banksfestival.com.
The Colville Confederated
Tribes operates a museum and
the casino in Coulee Dam.
Websites: www.grandcouleedam.
org, www.colvilletribes.com
• Coulee Dam
Incorporated: 1959
Elevation: 1,140
Population: 1,025
Location: On the Columbia River at
the junction of state highways 155 and
174
• Electric City
Incorporated: 1950
Elevation: 1,650
Population: 979
Location: Just south of Grand
Coulee on state Highway 155
• Elmer City
Incorporated: 1947
Elevation: 1,200
Population: 245
Location: Two miles north of Grand
Coulee Dam on state Highway 155
• Grand Coulee
Incorporated: 1935
Elevation: 1,702
Population: 925
Location: On the Columbia River at
the junction of state highways 155 and
174

Roger Harnack/The Chronicle

Roger Harnack/The Chronicle

Dee Camp/The Chronicle

Dee Camp/The Chronicle

Top to bottom: Grand Coulee Dam, Best Rod
Run by a Damsite, nectarines along state
Highway 155, Colorama Festival carnival.

Grand Coulee Dam area

Best scenery by a dam site

Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012 – Page 5

Nespelem

Norm Williams

A horse gallops across a wildflower-filled field on the Colville Indian Reservation east of Okanogan.

Reservation is scenic and historical
The 1.4 million-acre Colville
Indian Reservation is home to
members of the Colville Confederated
Tribes’ 12 bands, plus many nonIndians.
Nespelem sits at the crossroads of
state Highway 155 and Cache Creek
Road, which heads east through the
mountains to the Twin Lakes-Keller
area in Ferry County.
Numerous Bureau of Indian
Affairs roads radiate outward, taking
travelers to tree-covered mountains
and scenic lakes. (Some camping,
hunting and fishing areas are closed
to those who are not tribal members.)
Nespelem
and
the
BIA
agency/tribal headquarters, which
lies two miles south of town on the
highway, offer ball fields, celebration
grounds, rodeo arena and a school.
Columbia River Road leaves
Nespelem near the agency and takes
the traveler along the Columbia River
and past Omak Lake and northwest
to Okanogan and Omak.
A roadside marker on state
Highway 155 commemorates Chief
Joseph and the Joseph Band of Nez
Perce, who were pursued into
Montana by the U.S. Army from their
home in Oregon’s Wallowa Valley in
1877. The Joseph Band eventually
resettled in Nespelem.
Chief Joseph’s grave is nearby in
the Nez Perce Cemetery, which is
administered by the Colville
Confederated Tribes and is not open

Page 6 – Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012

to tourists. Those wishing to pay their
respects are asked by members of the
Nez Perce Band to visit the marker
instead.
The sites are part of the Nez Perce
National Historic Park, made up of
38 geographically separate sites on
the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) National
Historic
Trail.
Information:
www.nps.gov/nepe.
The Colville Confederated Tribes
holds a number of cultural events,
including the week-long Fourth of
July Encampment and spring junior
rodeo. Executive Order Day, July 2,
marks the creation of the Colville
Indian Reservation on July 2, 1872,
by President U.S. Grant.
Nespelem and the agency campus
offer service stations, food services
and groceries.
The reservation is on the Coulee
Corridor Scenic Byway, which runs
between Othello and Omak.
Information about the reservation
— including hunting, fishing,
camping, traveling and recreation —
is
available
at
www.colville
tribes.com.
Nespelem
E-mail: townofnespelem@bossig.com
Incorporated: 1935
Elevation: 1,900 feet.
Population: 210
Location: On state Highway 155, 17 miles
northwest of Grand Coulee area and 50 miles
southeast of Omak.

Al Camp/The Chronicle

Roger Harnack/The Chronicle

A sasquatch sculpture, above,
demands a second look in Disautel
Pass. A youngster learns about
fishing, below.
www.OkanoganVacation.com

A historic gateway for many

and soccer fields, a children’s
climbing toy and a paved fitness trail.
Public fishing and a nature trail
are on the city island adjacent to the
wastewater treatment plant off South
First Avenue.
Several neighborhood parks feature
playground equipment and tennis courts
are located adjacent to Okanogan High
School, 244 S. Fifth Ave.
The Okanogan Chamber of
Commerce sponsors several annual
community events: Okanogan Days in
June, Harvest Fest in October and Get
Lit
in
Okanogan
Christmas
celebration right after Thanksgiving.
Okanogan High School’s field is
home to the Okanogan County
Commandos minor league football team.
The
Okanogan
County
Fairgrounds are northeast of town on
Rodeo Trail. A Spring Fair Home and

Incorporated: 1907
Elevation: 835 feet
Population: 2,495
Location: At the junction of state Highway
20 and U.S. Highway 97, straddling the
Okanogan River.

Sheila Corson/The Chronicle

Dee Camp/The Chronicle

Al Camp/The Chronicle

Golfers aim for the green at the
Okanogan Valley Golf Club.

Joggers take off on the Autumn Leaf
Run.

The Okanogan Fire Hall Museum is a
replica of the city’s first fire hall.

www.OkanoganVacation.com

Dee Camp/The Chronicle

Horses round the first bend during races at the Okanogan County Fair.
Garden Show is held in March and the
county fair is the weekend after Labor
Day. Horse shows, youth events,
rallies and other activities are ongoing
at the fairgrounds.
The city offers grocery, clothing
and specialty shopping; service
stations and auto repair; restaurants
and bars; medical and dental clinics;
snowmobile and ATV shops; real
estate; motels; a casino; Washington
State Patrol and Okanogan County
Sheriff’s Office.
Okanogan Legion Airport is a
general aviation facility.

Okanogan

Historic Okanogan is a gateway to
the Colville Indian Reservation, Loup
Loup Ski Bowl of state Highway 20
west of town, the OkanoganWenatchee National Forest and
various outdoor activities.
The Okanogan County seat offers a
range of shopping, government
services and amenities in a
picturesque setting of historic brick
buildings surrounded by sage- and
tree-covered mountains.
Fishing, cross country skiing,
hiking, bicycling and snowmobiling
are just minutes away.
The city allows off-road vehicles on
all streets except for state highways
20 and 215 and U.S. Highway 97.
Snowmobiles are not allowed.
A free Internet wireless “hot spot”
is located in Legion Park on North
Second Avenue. The park’s gazebo is a
longtime fixture of the city – for years
it sat downtown and was the site of
many band concerts. It’s now a cool
place for a picnic, wedding or
impromptu concert.
Camping is allowed in the park.
The Okanogan County Historical
Society Museum, Okanogan Fire Hall
Museum and Wilson Research Center
(history and genealogy) are at the
north end of the park, which also
features a farmers’ market Saturday
mornings from May through October.
Residents and visitors alike can
take a dip in the city’s summer-only
pool in Alma Park, 601 S. First Ave.,
with a picnic shelter, basketball court
and playground equipment.
Across Salmon Creek, but still part
of the park, are a boat ramp and river
observation deck at the foot of Tyee
Street.
Central Valley Sports Complex on
Rodeo Trail offers baseball, softball

Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012 – Page 7

Omak

Roger Harnack/The Chronicle

Al Camp/The Chronicle

Omak Lake offers paddlers miles of deep
blue water and undeveloped shoreline.

Racers charge through across the Okanogan River during the
World-Famous Suicide Race.

Omak: Centennial central
Omak, the economic center of
Okanogan Country, will celebrate its
centennial through various events in
2011.
After a kickoff in February,
centennial events really get moving in
the summer. Local artists, from
beginners to professionals, will Paint
the Town on June 4, setting up easels
and getting some guided help at
designated spots throughout the city.
The main event will be the allclass reunion and Centennial Festival
July 22-24, featuring multiple events
celebrating the 100 years of history.
As always, the city will host the
Omak Stampede and World-Famous
Suicide Race from Aug. 11-14. It’s the
city’s largest event and features a
professional rodeo, carnival, vendor
booths, Indian encampment, art
show and other events. The Omak
Stampede always packs ‘em in.
Events don’t end there, with East
Side Park a hub for sporting events all
year, including a demolition derby in
late June; plus Art in the Park in Civic
League Park in June and a Twilight
Christmas Parade in December. A
new event coming this year is the

Page 8 – Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012

Mountain Man Rendezvous from
Aug. 26-28.
A farmers’ market runs from June
through October in Civic League Park
on Tuesday evenings.
Speaking of parks, Omak’s East
Side Park, the largest, is home to the
Omak Stampede, and also offers a
full-service RV park, baseball,
softball and soccer fields, swimming
pool, tennis courts, a skate park,
playground equipment and walking
trail to downtown along the dike.
Civic League Park offers a
bandshell,
picnic
area
and
playground equipment, with the
Omak Public Library next door.
Several neighborhood parks dot the
town, including the senior-friendly,
north-end Dalton-Klessig Park with
walking paths and picnic space.
The Omak Performing Arts
Center, owned by the Omak School
District, hosts a variety of events all
year. In May, the Okanogan Valley
Orchestra and Chorus spring musical
will be “Seven Brides for Seven
Brothers.” Local musicians keep the
center hopping throughout the year
with regular concerts.

A menagerie of amenities awaits
the visitor, with big box stores and
restaurant options at the north end of
town, shopping and coffee shops in
the downtown and car dealerships in
the south.
Omak straddles the Okanogan
River, with the eastern portion on the
1.4 million-acre Colville Indian
Reservation.
Visitors can get away from the
buzz with a leisurely float along the
Okanogan River, or take a boat or
personal watercraft into the warm
waters of nearby Omak Lake.
Want to really get away? Omak
can act as a central location to seek
out spots for hunting, fishing,
snowmobiling, cross country skiing,
bird watching, hiking, biking and
stargazing – something for every
season and every taste.
Website: www.omakcity.com
Incorporated: 1911
Elevation: 850 feet
Population: 4,750
Location: At the junction of state Highway
155 and U.S. Highway 97, straddling the
Okanogan River.

www.OkanoganVacation.com

Norm Williams

Bighorn sheep can be viewed near
the town of Oroville.

Al Camp/The Chronicle

Vintage hydroplanes skim along Lake Osoyoos during the CAN-AM races.

The Oroville area was first settled
by whites in the late 1850s.
The settlement was first known as
“rag town,” but renamed Oro, Spanish
for gold, in 1892. It was named
Oroville in 1909.
The city is located in a high desert
area, and agriculture and recreation
are among the area’s livelihoods.
Numerous streams, lakes and
proximity to the Cascade Mountains
make the area a favorite for
swimming, boating, waterskiing,
hiking, hunting, fishing, bicycling,
skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing
and wildlife viewing.
There is a growing trail system —
including the new Similkameen Trail
west of town — and the Osoyoos Lake
Veterans Memorial Park, which offers
a beach, camping and RV spaces.
Four nearby wineries produce
unique local wines and a brewery
offers local beers. The area also
produces apples, pears, grapes,
apricots and more.
The city offers a variety of motels,
eateries and stores.
The Depot Museum, located at 1210
Ironwood St., features displays
depicting area history. It also serves as
the city’s visitor information center.
In March, area families turn out
for Kite Day.
The city celebrates an annual May
Festival and in July, Heritage Days
and Airport Days are observed.
August brings the CAN-AM
Hydroplane races to Deep Bay Park
on Lake Osoyoos.
And in September, Oroville hosts

www.OkanoganVacation.com

Oroville

City has a golden beginning

Brenda Starkey/The Chronicle

A traditional May Pole Dance is part of the Oroville May Festival.
the annual Rendezvous Rhythm and
Blues Festival, also on the lake.
Along with hiking, boating, fishing
and other outdoor recreational
activities, Oroville features a ninehole golf course on Loomis-Oroville
Road three miles west of town.
There also is an airport named for
a World War II WASP pilot, Dorothy
F. Scott.
Nearby east of Oroville in Molson,
visitors can tour the old ghost town
and the red brick schoolhouse
museum. An ice fishing festival is held
Presidents Day weekend and the
Molson Mid-Summer Festival is held

in June.
Also east of town is Chesaw, a once
boom town, that now hosts a popular
Fourth of July Rodeo.
Buckhorn Mountain Gold Mine is
nearby.
A 24-hour international border
crossing into Canada is just north of
the city.
Website: www.Oroville-WA.com
Incorporated: 1908
Elevation: 912 feet
Population: 1,715
Location: On U.S. Highway 97 four miles
south of the Canadian border

Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012 – Page 9

Pateros

Al Camp/The Chronicle

Personal watercraft racing will return to Pateros this summer during the Apple Pie Jamboree.

Pateros is a sports playground
Fishing? Waterskiing? Personal
watercraft? Golf? Hiking? Dinner?
Welcome to Pateros.
The Methow River flows into the
Columbia at Pateros, and fishing
enthusiasts know both rivers are
great for angling. The Okanogan
River, home to more great fishing, is
about a 15-minute drive up the
Columbia.
Pateros offers two public boat
launches, accessible in all water
conditions, along with three public
docks for people who’d rather stay on
shore.
For canoe and kayak enthusiasts,
both the Columbia and Methow
provide plenty of opportunities. The
Columbia has plenty of room for
water skiers and personal watercraft,
and rentals are available.
The city’s waterfront attracts
boats of every kind. In 2011 the city
will host the David Thompson
Brigade, history enthusiasts reenacting the pioneering voyages of
Englishman David Thompson, June
24-25.
Dragon boat races will be on the
water in late July, and hydroplane
racers will return to town in late
August. The annual town celebration,
the Apple Pie Jamboree, will feature
personal watercraft racing along with

Page 10 – Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012

Cheryl Schweizer/The Chronicle

A water-spewing entry cools off
youngsters during the Apple Pie
Jamboree parade.
a parade, games, art fair and
namesake apple pies.
Bargain hunters will get their own
weekend at the all-town yard sales,
scheduled for mid-May.
Alta Lake, about two miles away,
also offers boating, swimming.
camping at Alta Lake State Park and
the 18-hole, privately owned Alta
Lake Golf Course.
Private companies also provide
horseback trail rides around Alta
Lake, and the Pateros area has plenty

of public property with off-road
potential for motorbikes and fourwheelers.
Camping
possibilities
also
abound, and there are two motels in
town for those who don’t like to
rough it. Downtown Pateros boasts
two restaurants, a bakery and bar and
grill, along with businesses that offer
services and products to anglers and
travelers.
As downtowns go, Pateros’ is
relatively new. It was rebuilt in the
early 1960s when portions of the
town were relocated because the
Columbia rose with the construction
of Wells Dam.
Pateros began as Ives Landing in
the late 1890s. Ives sold out – his wife
hated pioneering – and the town was
renamed by a Spanish-American War
veteran, who remembered a town
he’d encountered on his tour of duty
in the Philippines.
Its history is the subject of a new
museum that opened at Pateros City
Hall in late April.
Website: www.pateros.com
Incorporated: 1913
Elevation: 812 feet
Population: 625
Location: At the intersection of U.S.
Highway 97 and state Highway 153

www.OkanoganVacation.com

Eureka! It’s now Republic

Website: www.republicwa.org
Incorporated: 1900
Elevation: 2,659
Population: 975
Location: The only incorporated city in Ferry County is
located at the junction of state highways 20 and 21

www.OkanoganVacation.com

Brenda Starkey/The Chronicle

Brenda Starkey/The Chronicle

Republic

Originally called Eureka Gulch, the town started
as a gold rush boom town.
It is thought the population may have reached
20,000 at the height of gold fever when the northern
part of the Colville Indian Reservation was opened
for prospecting.
As home to area administrative offices for Kinross
Gold Corp., the town remains involved with gold
mining.
Prospectors Days, the annual town celebration,
pays homage to that early heritage. Can-can girls, a
staged Old West shootout, parade, rodeo and other
activities are featured in the June event.
Ranching, logging, cottage industries and tourism
are among other businesses in the area.
The breathtaking views of the Colville National
Forest, which surrounds Republic, are popular
among outdoor enthusiasts. Numerous nearby lakes
also make the area attractive to visitors.
Hunting, fishing, bird watching, bicycling, hiking,
snowshoeing, cross country skiing, boating,
motorized recreational sports and fossil digging bring
people to the area.
The county also features the Golden Tiger
Pathway and a 25-mile long, undeveloped, nonmotorized rail trail.
Republic is home to the Stonerose Fossil
Interpretive Center, located across the street from the
city’s Patterson Park. Visitors can dig for fossils from
the Eocene Era at the center’s Boot Hill Fossil Site.
The town also offers car racing on a three-eighthsmile dirt oval at Eagle Track Raceway south of town
off of Pendry Road. In January, the track also offers a
day of snowmobile racing.
Nearby Curlew Lake, with a state park and fishing
resorts, is a popular destination, especially in the
summer. A Fourth of July fireworks display and
lighted boat parade are among the attractions.
Republic hosts a motorcycle rally in June that
features a motorcycle rodeo, demonstration and
shows, entertainment and numerous day rides.
August brings the Mountain Music Festival and
annual Wings Over Republic Fly-in at the county
airport near Curlew Lake.
The Ferry County Fair is a good old-fashioned
event held over Labor Day weekend near Republic.
The fairgrounds also offer a historic carousel, housed
in a pavilion that can be rented.
September brings the Honky Tonk Petanque
tournament, and January the city’s Winterfest.
The area’s history is displayed through a
collection of historical photos and exhibits at the
Republic Historical Center. Murals around town also
depict area history, and booklets outlining a walking
tour of the city offer a history lesson, pointing out
historic buildings and outlining events of interest.

Youngsters strain for the lead during
Riverfest sack races. A rooster sculpture,
left, outside the Riverside Store stands
watch while Hoofin’ and Woofin’ participants
cross the quiet Main Street.

Tiny town offers a great stop
Riverside, a tiny town with a lot of history, is a great
place to stop for a bite to eat, a quiet stroll, a bit of shopping
or to ponder which direction to head next.
In the early 1900s, Riverside was a blossoming town,
peaking at a population of 350 and making Omak and
Tonasket look tiny.
Its success was largely due to its place as the head of
riverboat navigation on the Okanogan River. Because of its
booming qualities, it hosted the first county fair in 1905.
That success didn’t always come without troubles – its
new $3,000 drawbridge collapsed in 1905. It lost its bid to
be county seat in 1908. Two fires leveled much of the
business district in 1916.
Once the railroad came through in 1914, it spelled the
end for riverboats and Riverside became a quiet town.
It now includes a general store, gas station, city park,
public fishing, a Western store, antique store, RV park,
pawn shop and other amenities.
Some historic buildings still stand, such as the old
schoolhouse. The 1912 school bell is displayed in a park.
In April, Hoofin’ and Woofin’ brings dogs and their
humans to town for a fitness walk and fundraiser for a local
animal rescue.
Every first weekend in August, the town holds Riverfest,
with family games, music, a parade, firefighter water battle
and more.
Several miles outside of Riverside, explorers can visit
nature in the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area to the northwest
and, to the east, Tunk Valley. Hunting, fishing, camping,
horseback riding, photographing, bird watching and hiking
are just a few activities that await.
A bit farther up Tunk Creek, Crawfish Lake boasts a

Page 12 – Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012

Roger Harnack/The Chronicle

Crawfish Lake, east of Riverside, wears some of its
winter ice into April.
campground and many privately owned cabins for fishing
and otherwise enjoying the woods. Half the lake is
bordered by U.S. Forest Service land, and the other by the
Colville Indian Reservation.
Elevation: 853 feet
Population: 350
Incorporated: 1913
Location: Adjacent to U.S. Highway 97, about seven miles north of
Omak

www.OkanoganVacation.com

Brenda Starkey/The Chronicle

Brenda Starkey/The Chronicle

Brenda Starkey/The Chronicle

Left to right: Airplane enthusiasts chat during the Father’s Day Fly-in. A skateboarder rolls up to the coping at the
B3 Skatepark. Veterans gather at the Legacy Project to remember comrades.

Tonasket is in an agriculture and
forestry area, and home to the
Tonasket Ranger District of the
Okanogan-Wenatchee
National
Forest.
The city is a jumping-off point for
many recreational activities – hunting,
fishing, wild animal observation,
horseback riding, boating, bicycling,
skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling
and more. The Many Lakes area, west
of town, offers several lakes with a
variety of species for anglers of all
types.
The city is named after Chief
Tonasket of the Okanogan people,
who became grand chief of the
American Okanogan after the U.S.Canadian border was established in
1846.
The Tonasket Kiwanis Club offers
an annual Ground Hog Dinner on the
first Saturday after Ground Hog Day
in February. No, it doesn’t feature
little furry animals, but rather
sausage made fresh from an old
German recipe.
There is a flea market and
consignment auction in May and a
farmers’ market running through the
summer and fall months. A skate park
competition is offered the third
weekend of May at the concrete, inground skate park in Chief Tonasket
Park.
City parks also offer soccer and
baseball/softball fields, a swimming
pool, picnicking and a riverside
salmon observation platform.
The Founders Day Rodeo is
featured the first weekend in June,
with a celebration for fishing the
second weekend in June. The next
weekend brings the Father’s Day Fly-

www.OkanoganVacation.com

Al Camp/The Chronicle

Tonasket

Jump off to recreation

Vehicles collide during the Tonasket Demolition Derby.
in at the Tonasket Airport and the
North Country Car Club Car Show.
The Conscious Culture Festival
featuring music of various genres is
also held at the barter faire site east of
town in June. The event also features
speakers, poets, workshops, crafts
and other activities in a family
environment for all ages.
August brings the Tonasket Junior
Rodeo and Garlic Festival, followed
by the Demolition Derby on Labor
Day weekend.
The Okanogan Family Faire, a
local barter fair and harvest
celebration is held east of town in
September.
Tonasket’s
Winterfest
is

celebrated the first Friday of
December.
Nearby Wauconda, east of town on
state Highway 20, hosts a Flag Day
picnic in June, Sock Hop and Car
Show in mid-July, fall pie auction and
other activities.
Sitzmark Ski Area, 20 miles
northeast of Tonasket near Havillah,
offers skiing and snowboarding
activities.
Web site: www.tonasketcity.org
Incorporated: 1926
Elevation: 900 feet
Population: 1,000
Location: Halfway between Omak and the
Canadian border on U.S. Highway 97

Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012 – Page 13

Twisp/Winthrop

Catch the outdoors and arts
Visitors can catch the great
outdoors and the arts scene in Twisp
and Winthrop.
Both are nestled along the Methow
River in the North Cascades foothills.
Twisp is about nine miles south of
Winthrop.
Both towns boast multiple arts
events and locations, plus a variety of
community festivals. Either can serve
as a base for forays into the mountains
for horseback riding, hiking, river
rafting,
hunting,
fishing,
snowmobiling, skiing, bicycling and
more. There’s ice skating in the winter
and golf in the summer, too.
Scenic drives and hikes abound,
from Falls Creek Falls to nearby Hart’s
Pass, the highest point in the state to
which one can drive.
Interested in viewing original
works? Confluence Gallery and Art
Center in Twisp, Winthrop Gallery
and others show artwork by both
professionals and students..
Want to see some theater? The
Methow Valley Theater and Merc
Playhouse
both
feature
live
performances throughout the year.
Upcoming events are listed at
www.methowvalleytheater.org and
www.mercplayhouse.org.
Want to get back to nature? Head
out on some hiking or biking trails, such
as the Twisp River Trail, Methow Valley
Community Trail or the handicapaccessible Blackpine Lake Trail.
To cool off on those hot summer
days, visit the Wagner Memorial Pool
in the Twisp Park.
Check out seasonal produce and
local products at either town’s
farmers’ market.
Twisp hosts a Fourth of July
celebration, Christmas events and
more.
Winthrop, an Old West-themed
town, was settled in the 1800s, first by
trappers and later by gold miners.
Founder Guy Waring’s 1891 home
and saloon building still stand, now as
the Shafer Museum and Town Hall.
The rest of the town looks as
though it came from the same period,
although most of it is much newer.
A town ordinance requires an
American Old West look, kept by false
fronts and board sidewalks.
Many events are hosted through
the Methow Valley Sport Trails
Association, with schedules and
information at www.mvsta.com.
Feeling rusty with those horseback

Page 14 – Okanogan Country Vacationland 2011-2012

Al Camp/The Chronicle

A mutton buster gets help with the dismount during the Methow Valley
Rodeo.
available in and around both towns,
from rustic cabins to luxurious
resorts.
For those who want to rough it, the
area offers a variety of Forest Service,
state and private campgrounds.
In May, enjoy the Ride to
Rendezvous
re-enactment
of
stagecoaches and horses traveling as
in the olden days.
In spring and summer, check out
‘49er Days, the Winthrop Rhythm and
Blues Festival or the Methow Valley
Chamber Music Festival. In March,
catch a ride at the Balloon Roundup.
Look for these and other events at
www.twispinfo.com or www.win
thropwashington.com.

Dee Camp/The Chronicle

Craggy, snow-covered mountains
rise up in the North Cascades.
skills? Locals offer lessons and rentals,
including Bear Creek Equestrian
Center, www.bearcreekequestrian.
com.
Fishing lovers can get the guidance
they need at www.methowfishing.
com.
Visit both towns’ shops and
restaurants. Winthrop offers the
oldest legal saloon in Washington.
Several lodging options are

• Twisp
Web site: www.townoftwisp.com
Incorporated: 1909
Elevation: 1,500 feet
Population: 985
Location: On state Highway 20, nine miles
south of Winthrop, 29 miles west of Okanogan
and 31 miles north of Pateros via state
Highway 153
• Winthrop
Web site: www.townofwinthrop.com
Incorporated: 1924
Elevation: 1,765 feet
Population: 400
Location: In the Methow Valley at the foot
of the Cascade Mountains on state Highway
20

March 2012
March Okanogan County Spring Fair Home and
Garden Show (date to be announced); Okanogan
County Fairgrounds, Okanogan; www.okanogan
countyfair.org or 509-422-1621
March 2-4 Winthrop Balloon Roundup;
www.winthropwashington.com
March 10 Best for Women Fair; Okanogan
March 24 Okanogan Alumni Basketball Game;
Dawson Gym, Okanogan; 509-422-3770
Late March Kite Day; Oroville
—All dates are tentative; it’s a good idea to check
with organizers for exact dates and times.

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May (Cont.)
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Tournaments
Over the Dam Run
Isle of Flags
Laser Light Show starts
Memorial Day Weekend
June
Laser Light Show nightly
Sunbankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hydro Races
Koulee Kids Festival
Coulee Cruizers Rod Run

June (Cont.)
Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club BBQ
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Laser Light Show nightly
July 4th â&#x20AC;&#x153;Festival of
Americaâ&#x20AC;?/Fireworks
Colville Confederated
Tribes Pow-Wow
August
Laser Light Show nightly
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Laser Light Show nightly